The Coronavirus Covid19 Making Telemedicine The New Norm

The Coronavirus is predicted to peak in about two weeks in Orlando. What’s happening to stop the spread of the Coronavirus? Office staff and doctors are set up as remote workers and are using Telemedicine to see patients. Keeping everyone safe, control the spread of Covid19 and maintaining the state of Florida Stay-At-Home Order.

The once busy office full of people is now empty and but still being productive. Everyone’s happy..

Practicing telemedicine Healthcare agencies are still subject to HIPPA and JCAHO. So any app used must be compliant. Zoom recently got hacked so they lost their chance in the medical field for a while. Microsoft is boasting Teams since it will be ending Skype soon. Apple has Facetime but it only works on Apple products. For Telemedicine to work it has to be something universal. It has to work on Apple, Android, Mac, Windows, Chromebook, etc, etc. and has to be easy to use. Doctors, Nurses, and Medical Assistants won’t have time to help patients set up for calls. Set up it might fall upon the IT Dept of the Healthcare Agencies or a document sent to the patient prior. Making sure they are ready for their appointment.

How they are going to go about charging for the service or office visit I am not sure yet. But they will come up with a way. The Healthcare Agency I work for is waiving those due to the Coronavirus. It won’t last long they want their money!

What happens after the Coronavirus is over? The Healthcare Agencies are going to look at the numbers. Meaning the money! Looking at what is working with telemedicine and what can Downsizingproductivelyimprove it. SOME of the remote workers will return back to a semi-normal office and claim for safety. The doctor’s offices that require a patient to be seen in such as an OBGYN will not be affected as much. It is the General practice office that will be affected the most. Limiting in person visits to a necessary. The big office space’s will no longer needed with a smaller staff. Downsizing but still bring productive and making the same money.

The New Norm!

How it is pitched to the patients? Not having to leave their, job, or home for an appointment. Saving time in traffic and gas. No waiting in a lobby to be seen.

My last doctors visit was done from my office desk and took 10 minutes.

How do the Doctors benefit? They have a lower risk of getting sick. They can do their job, anywhere, anytime, make their own hours, and no commute time.

How do we provide the vital information need from the patient? It’s all about connected devices. We are in a connected world and it going to become more connected. Smartwatches will be used to take some of the vital signs. Smart scales for weight measurements and Smart Thermometers are a few examples.

What if the patients don’t have them? Healthcare Agencies will use partnerships as an incentive or find a way for insurance to pay for it. Who doesn’t want a free Fitbit or free scale? It’ s Healthcare they will find a way.

The Coronavirus has jumped up the timeline of telemedicine. It made us rush to find a way to use telemedicine to interact with patients while being safe. What was supposed to be impediment over months or years has now been pushed to weeks or days.

What I am stating here is my view of what I see happening and coming. The Coronavirus is going to create jobs but also lose jobs in the healthcare field. We have to adapt to this change or get left behind.\